Real Madrid coach Carlo Anceloti anticipates a challenging match in Sunday's El-Clasico against Barcelona, emphasizing the competitiveness of their opponents. Anceloti sees the game as an opportunity for Real Madrid to strengthen their position in La Liga but acknowledges the difficulty due to Barcelona's strong performance as a competitive side. He expects the match to be typical of El-Clasico encounters: hard-fought and evenly contested.

Anceloti provided updates on the squad's fitness, mentioning that defender Ferland Mendy was given an extra day of rest due to fatigue after their recent victory over Manchester City. However, he confirmed the overall fitness of the team, aside from long-term absentees. Real Madrid aims to secure a league and Champions League double for the fifth time in their history, with Anceloti expressing confidence in their current position and readiness to seize opportunities in the upcoming matches.

Meanwhile, Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez acknowledged the quality of their rivals, Real Madrid, ahead of the crucial El-Clasico clash. With Real Madrid leading La Liga by eight points, Barcelona recognizes the importance of securing a victory to keep their title hopes alive. Despite Barcelona's recent Champions League exit and Real Madrid's impressive performance against Manchester City, Xavi commended Real Madrid's record and highlighted their strengths, emphasizing attributes like effort, defensive work, and team solidarity.

Xavi emphasized the significance of the upcoming match, describing it as the most important game of the season for Barcelona. He stressed the need to win to apply pressure on the league leaders. Despite Real Madrid's remarkable form, Xavi expressed determination and respect for their opponents, acknowledging their exceptional record in La Liga. He emphasized Barcelona's competitive spirit and highlighted their relatively strong performance in the league, indicating their readiness to compete despite the challenging circumstances.

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